Farm to Table Bahay Buffet Experience at MOCA Farm, Batangas

Hey dear readers! If you're following me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I do eat out but haven't been writing about them. My apologies. I do not want to share my food adventures when I think they all taste the same to me. It would be unfair for you and the establishments. But now, I'm back and ready to share with you my newest discovery! ;)

It was cloudy and drizzling when I left the house on a Saturday morning in July and made my way to Makati. There I met with fellow food / lifestyle bloggers and the organizers of our food trip, BAGA Manila.

The trip took more than 2 hours. Stepping out in sunny Castillo, Padre Garcia in Batangas province, we were welcomed with smiles by Ms. Gigi Morris, owner of MoCa Family Farm. She invited us to have snacks first before our scheduled activities.

What awaited us was Sweet Tamales, steamed rice and coconut filling wrapped in banana leaves, with Santan syrup. For refreshments, local coffee lovers can enjoy a cup or two of Excelsa, Liberica, or Robusta. It was warm so I chose between Bignay Cider (also known as bugnay, Antidesma Bunius) and Santol (cottonfruit).

Everyone liked the tamales! I didn't want to spoil my lunch so I only had one. I could have taken home some.. :p

MoCa Family Farm Tour

Located in Brgy. Castillo, Padre Garcia, this farm was originally known as a mango orchard. The family, advocating small-scale organic farming and agritourism, cultivated the land and made it their home. It is now rich in various fruit-bearing trees, vegetable crops, flowers, and other plants. They also have breeding grounds for rabbits, chickens and native pigs.

BAHAY Buffet

'Buffet At Home is Always Yummy' or BAHAY Buffet aims to introduce a different buffet experience that can be hosted by anyone! Example of partner profiles are up-and-coming hole in the wall eateries, a housewife with specialties to boast of, micro-caterers, a specialty chef with a food drop-off business, owner of a newly-founded concept shop, a barbecuer who simply loves to grill, a foodie who loves cooking as much as eating, or a farm owner promoting agri-tourism just like the MoCa Family Farm.

Ms. Gigi prepared food based on what's available in the farm so there is no standard menu.

Eating is more fun with friends! I shared the table with lifestyle bloggers Axl, Cie and Jacq ^_^

MoCa Farm's seasonal garden salad had alugbati in it instead of the usual lettuce. It was a little bitter but the roasted pineapple balanced the flavor with its natural sweetness that I kept coming back for me. The Sapin Sapin rice got its beautiful colors from the flowers, which made it Instagram-worthy. I aimed more for the native pig's crispy skin than its meat but hey, less fat folks! Also, I thought their Zesty Santol with Pork in Coconut Milk would be too spicy for me but I enjoyed it as much the salad, as long as I don't eat the green chili :p

Being educated about where your food comes from gives one a sense of appreciation for the people who worked hard to provide us resources to fuel our bodies. It also helps change the mindset of people in eating healthy food - it can be colorful, flavorful and fulfilling!

I love that there's BAHAY Buffet to expose me to wonderful cooks with good food and unique stories to tell. Now I have reasons to jump right back into food blogging.